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Administration
Administration
- Benefit from the Upgrade Support of the Enhancement Framework
by Thomas Weiss, Solution Manager, SAP NetWeaver Product Management Application Server ABAP, SAP AG (January 2010)
Using the new Enhancement Framework instead of classic modification technology saves a lot of time in an SAP upgrade. In contrast to the classic modification technology, all enhancements survive an upgrade. You need only to adjust an enhancement if the underlying SAP object has vanished or been incompatibly changed. The new transaction SPAU_ENH informs you about which objects you have to adjust and supports you in adjusting these objects.
- Best Practices for Driving SAP Initiatives via an Offsite Delivery Model
by Yosh Eisbart, Senior SAP Project Manager/Offsite Delivery Manager (April 2009)
Learn about the array of SAP offsite delivery methods and discover the importance of the role of an integration manager if you decide to implement one of them.
- Bring BPM-Based Process Models to Execution: Roles and Data Flow with the Process Composer
by Volker Stiehl, Chief Solution Expert, SAP AG (January 2010)
Developing multi-step interactive processes is a challenging task. Find out how to model the data flow within a business process. In addition, learn how to assign roles to your interactive steps and how to define conditions for gateways that care for the branches in your process flow. Finally see how to build, deploy, and run your business process.
- Bulletproof Your SAP Implementations and Legacy-to-SAP Conversions
by Tom Sullivan, Senior IT Specialist (August 2009)
Find out the pitfalls that occur most often when converting from a non-SAP legacy system to an SAP system. Then discover best practices to help you avoid these pitfalls and see how you can apply them to your project.
- Capture accurate solution requirements the first time with exploratory modeling (xM): How to
nearly eliminate post-go-
live application design failures
by Heinz Roggenkemper, Executive Vice President of Development, SAP Labs
Ralf Ehret, Development Architect, SAP AG
Andreas Tönne, Lead Consultant, Cincom Systems
The lack of a common language between business users and developers during application development projects often results in developers spending a lot of time designing a solution that does not meet user needs. This article explores an approach to application development called exploratory modeling (xM) that reduces the risk of application design failure by using non-technical, business-level tools and concepts to create an application model, and then enabling fine-tuning of the model through shortened, interactive analysis and design cycles. The article starts by examining the root causes of design failures, and then defines the xM approach and discusses how it was successfully used in two projects.
- Case Study: What Every Cutover Manager Should Know to Ensure a Smooth SAP Implementation
by Srinivasa (Srini) Munagavalasa PMP, Deployment Manager, C.A. Inc. (September 2009)
Cutover is one of the final steps for a successful implementation of any SAP project — and one of the most complex and critical components. A clear understanding of the processes, communication plan, staffing plan, resource requirements, execution steps, and expectations can help drive a successful cutover. Learn what is entailed in this process, what you need to do to make it successful, what to avoid, and what you need to keep an eye on.
- Composite Designer and SAP NetWeaver Business Process Management Minimize Composite Application Development Efforts
by Volker Stiehl, Solution Expert, SAP AG (October 2009)
With the introduction of the Composite Designer as part of SAP enhancement package 1 for SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment 7.1, a composite is treated as one entity for the first time. Learn how to work with the Composite Designer as your central cockpit for developing composite applications. See how to start with a skeleton of a business process that you are going to sketch with SAP NetWeaver Business Process Management.
- Configure SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation for SAP NetWeaver to Optimize System Performance
by Ryan Leask, Director, BPC Solution Management, SAP BusinessObjects and Prakash Darji, Director, BPC Solution Management, SAP BusinessObjects (January 2009)
Read about the underlying architecture for SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation 7.0, version for SAP NetWeaver. Learn how to set up the connectivity between the different SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation clients and servers, and how to change different ABAP and .NET settings to optimize system performance.
- Configure SAPSprint for Secure Server-Based Printing on Windows
by Michael Szardenings, Senior Developer, SAP AG (June 2009)
You can have as wide and varied a range of printing needs as you have business needs. Learn about the available SAPSprint options — what they are and what they do — so you can help your organization meet its specific printing needs.
- Data Transformation in SAP Standard ALE Distributed Business Processes: How to
Ensure an Efficient, Effective Implementation
by Arthur Wirthensohn, Senior Consultant, EDS Switzerland
SAP’s Application Link Enabling (ALE) is an integrated toolset for distributing data between SAP systems as well as between SAP and non-SAP systems. ALE offers a wide range of tools for performing data conversions between systems, each with its own advantages and limitations. This article outlines these data conversion tools — their capabilities, relative merits, and how to use them — and provides a structured approach for selecting the right tool, or combination of tools, for your own implementation, so that you can plan and build more cost-effective, more easily maintainable ALE interfaces.
- Database System Copies Made Easy — A Guide for Copying an Entire R/3 System to
a New Windows Platform
by Giovanni Davila, SAP Basis & Database Administration, Signature Fruit Company,
LLC
Sooner or later, every SAP Basis administrator faces the challenge of copying an entire R/3 system onto another server machine to create a test system, a disaster recovery server, or a report-only server, for example. Unfortunately, many administrators lack the knowledge and resources to properly clone an R/3 system. This article provides you with the tools you need to successfully copy a full database system to a Windows platform. By following the steps and checklists outlined in these pages, you can create a new system from the ground up, and best of all, you can automate subsequent copies using a downloadable script that saves you from many common mistakes.
- Define Secure Connections with the Destination Service in SAP NetWeaver AS Java
by Robert Heidasch, Business Semantic Applications, SAP AG (May 2010)
The modern component-based business applications comprise several components that often run on different machines. Establishing the identities of the communicating parties has become an important element in business operations. You need to protect your sensitive data against unauthorized access, which requires the establishment of secure communication channels. SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java provides the destination service that helps you configure secure connections to remote business applications and systems.
- Ensure consistency and synchronization across your master data: Integrate your
classification changes into customer and vendor master data ALE scenarios
by Anthony Cecchini
Nearly every SAP customer has used standard ALE scenarios to distribute customer and vendor master data changes across their SAP system landscapes. However, prior to SAP NetWeaver ’04, the classification data associated with customer and vendor master data is not included in distributions. This article outlines a two-part solution for keeping master data and associated classification data in synch. The first half of the article shows you how to create an extended IDoc that includes the associated classification data when master data changes are distributed. The second half of the article shows you how to trigger this same IDoc when only classification data is changed.
- Explore the technical procedures and settings for creating and securing RFMs in ABAP: Part 2 — A comprehensive guide
for SAP programmers and administrators
by Masoud Aghadavoodi Jolfaei, Development Architect, SAP AG
Eduard Neuwirt, Senior Developer, SAP AG
Although new communication protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, and SOAP have gained
traction in recent years, remote function call (RFC) remains the most trusted
and widely used for connecting ABAP systems. This is the second article in
a two-part series that helps you create better performing and more robust ABAP
applications using RFC. The first installment introduced key RFC concepts and
discussed the five RFC types. This second installment explores more advanced
topics. It shows you how to design and develop remote function modules (RFMs)
that fulfill performance and security expectations, and how to properly maintain
RFC destinations for effective network communication.
- Get Ready to Implement SAP Enhancement Packages for SAP ERP 6.0
by Christian Oehler, Suite Solution Architecture, Solution Management SAP Business Suite, and Thomas Weiss, Product Manager, SAP NetWeaver Product
Management Application Server ABAP, SAP AG (December 2008)
SAP’s enhancement package strategy allows you to implement the functionality that you need when you need it without having to worry about overriding your customizations or any other unknown side effects. Gain a better understanding of SAP’s latest software delivery strategy as you learn how to implement and activate individual enhancements with minimal maintenance efforts.
- Get the Maximum Out of a BRSPACE Online Reorganization
by Martin Frauendorfer, Service Architect, Active Global Support, SAP AG (February 2010)
BRSPACE online reorganizations provide possibilities for tasks such as reduction of fragmentation or adaptation of the tablespace design. For example, you can automatically improve data clustering by sorting table records or activating an index-organized table. Find out which scenarios can benefit from reorganization and then see how you can take BRSPACE to the next level.
- Get the Most Out of SAPSprint for Server-Based Printing in Microsoft Windows
by Michael Szardenings, Senior Developer, SAP AG (April 2009)
SAPSprint is the latest service for server-based printing on Windows. Learn how to install and configure this service with its default options. Drill down into the technical implementation to learn how to manage print requests, restart print processes, configure front-end printing, and include barcodes.
- Implement Proven Testing Practices and Techniques for Large-Scale Global SAP Rollouts
by Jose Fajardo, President, SAPTESTING.NET (August 2009)
Learn how to avoid mistakes that plague many SAP implementations associated with flawed testing approaches. Take away valuable information that you can use as a baseline for either enhancing the status quo at your respective projects or for avoiding potential mistakes before testing is initiated.
- Master the five remote function call (RFC) types in ABAP: Part 1 — A comprehensive guide for
SAP programmers and administrators
by Masoud Aghadavoodi Jolfaei, Development Architect, AG
Eduard Neuwirt, Senior Developer, SAP AG
Remote function call (RFC) is the de facto protocol
of choice of SAP developers, system architects, and
administrators, and is the basis of nearly all major
integration points in an SAP system landscape. You’ve
probably used RFC to call function modules on other
SAP systems, or used one of SAP’s standalone
RFC libraries. But did you know that there are other
SAP-supplied RFCs that optimize system resources and
performance? This article, the first in a two-part
series, takes you on a brief tour of the five RFC types
available with SAP Basis 4.0B and higher, and teaches
you how to use them in your ABAP programs.
- Navigate the Complexities of Currency Conversion for More Accurate Management Reporting
by Jens Koerner, SAP NetWeaver BI Solution Architect, Inforte, a Business & Decision Company (February 2009)
Since dealing with multiple currencies has become commonplace in a global economy, it’s no surprise that currency conversion is needed everywhere in global organizations that implement and run SAP software solutions. While currency conversion was mainly the purview of the ERP system in the past, ERP systems no longer carry that burden alone. Today’s managers want reports on aggregated data in various currencies. Uncover the hidden complexities of currency conversion in management reporting, and discover easy-to-understand examples that help you communicate these complexities to project stakeholders to ensure that your solution will meet all multi-currency reporting requirements.
- Overcome Offsite Delivery Challenges and Improve Productivity
by Yosh Eisbart, Senior SAP Project Manager/Offsite Delivery Manager (September 2009)
Learn how you can maximize your offsite delivery capabilities using both SAP Solution Manager and work tracking tools, such as VersionOne and Microsoft Project.
- Provide more efficient master data management integration with SAP’s new mass
interfaces and extractor programs
by Michal Krawczyk, SAP Integration Consultant, BCC, Poland
Enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA) requires that you update your approach to building applications that use master data objects, such as customer or vendor data, especially in terms of integration with SAP NetWeaver Master Data Management (SAP NetWeaver MDM) or other MDM tools. SAP has introduced mass message interfaces
for transferring master data, as well as programs for both IDoc and ABAP proxy message types. Find out what steps are necessary to configure the new mass message interfaces and extractor programs to achieve the greatest productivity.
- Quick Tip: 5 Steps to Integrate Third-Party Testing Tools into Your SAP System
by Judith M. Myerson, President/Owner (August 2009)
When you add untested third-party tools to your SAP system you can encounter issues during the integration process. Find out how you can save time and work when testing and integrating third-party tools, and discover what corrective actions you need to take to integrate them.
- Quick Tip: Apply Your Documents and Media Files to SAP Transactional Data
by Michael A. Moore, SAP Technical Architect (May 2010)
SAP provides a document management solution to allow SAP application users to attach images of assets, documents, and other objects and associate them with transactional data. The system provides security, change management, search capability, and integration with desktop applications such as Microsoft Office.
- Quick Tip: SAP’s Path to the Cloud
by Michael A. Moore, SAP Technical Architect (May 2010)
SAP is positioning its applications and providing management tools to take advantage of cloud computing implementation models. Find out what is currently available for cloud computing, what is to come, and which SAP Notes can help you with your cloud project.
- Quickly Resolve SAP Interactive Form Issues for Seamless Printing Workflow
by Michael Szardenings, Senior Developer, SAP AG (May 2010)
The SAP Interactive Forms software by Adobe (SAP Interactive Forms) offers an enhanced look and interaction capabilities. However, using SAP Interactive Forms can cause obstacles within the printing workflow. Understanding the issues that may arise helps you set up your printing environment for SAP Interactive Forms.
- SAP Business Connector 4.8 and SAP NetWeaver PI Compared: When to Use Each
by Ulrich Schmidt, Senior Developer, SAP AG (October 2009)
Understand what integration platforms are and how you use them with SAP systems. Find out the similarities and differences between SAP’s two main integration platforms: SAP Business Connector and SAP NetWeaver Process Integration.
- SAP NetWeaver Business Rules Management: Externalize Critical Business Logic for Enhanced Flexibility
by Volker Stiehl, Chief Solution Expert, SAP AG (July 2010)
Discover how the Rete engine in SAP NetWeaver Business Rules Management helps you define business logic — without the need for IT assistance. As this logic is encapsulated and handled in a dedicated environment, business experts can adapt rules during runtime to react to changing market conditions.
- SAP NetWeaver Business Rules Management: Tips for Testing and Working with Business Rules
by Volker Stiehl, Chief Solution Expert, SAP AG (July 2010)
After you create business rules, you need to test them to ensure they work as expected. Find out the best way to test your rules. Then see how you can create Web services from them and run your rules using the Web service navigator. Finally, obtain an understanding about how a rules engine works in detail and how you can influence the rule’s execution sequence.
- SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment 7.2: New Feature Improves Development of Loosely Coupled SOA-Based Applications
by Volker Stiehl, Chief Solution Expert, SAP AG, (February 2010)
Find out how the latest version of SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment (7.2) helps you to build enterprise-ready composite applications. Focus on the asynchronous write pattern and how you can use the Business Process Modeling Notation together with SAP NetWeaver Business Process Management to execute process models.
- SAP NetWeaver PI 7.1: Process Integration Modeling a Challenge? ES Repository Simplifies with a Top-Down Approach
by Peter Gutsche, Dr, SAP AG (October 2009)
Software architects and developers involved in service-oriented architecture projects can use the Enterprise Services Repository to design integration content following a top-down approach. This approach facilitates your design work because you have an overview of the content objects that belong to your integration scenarios as well as how these objects are related to each other. Keeping your design work and the created content transparent and interlinked saves you time and effort.
- Take a Serious Look at the “A” in SOA and Gain Flexible, Adaptable Architecture
by Volker Stiehl, Chief Solution Expert, SAP AG (February 2010)
Understand what the ideal architecture for an enterprise-ready composite application should look like. Discover the pitfalls involved, how to avoid them, and how your decisions influence the overall complexity of the final application. By following these recommendations, you can develop applications that are well prepared for your always-changing IT landscape.
- Troubleshoot the Three SAPSprint Root Error Categories for Server-Based Printing on Windows
by Michael Szardenings, Senior Developer, SAP AG (October 2009)
A failed printout can delay or disrupt important meetings or cause you to miss deadlines. See how to avoid printer failures when using SAPSprint by analyzing the three most common types of errors. Also find answers to common SAPSprint issues in the SAPSprint FAQs.
- Understanding and Optimizing Your ALE Data Distribution: Controlling ALE
Processing
by Arthur Wirthensohn, Senior Consultant, EDS Switzerland
Application Link Enabling (ALE) is the standard SAP tool of choice for linking an SAP system to another SAP system, to an application integration system like SAP XI, or to any subsystems, and for distributing data across such systems. However, it is all too easy for such distributions to cause reduced system availability and poor performance for other users and processes. To address these issues, you need to understand how ALE data distributions work — how they utilize work processes, how processing loads can be distributed, when and how to couple or decouple ALE processes, and when and how to use packets for processing. This article provides you with a foundation for that understanding by taking you through the data distribution process and identifying opportunities for controlling and optimizing it.
- Understanding and Optimizing Your ALE Data Distribution: Minimizing Data Volume
by Arthur Wirthensohn, Senior Consultant, EDS Switzerland
If you are involved in setting up or maintaining data distribution using SAP's Application Link Enabling (ALE) technology, you have a role to play in ensuring that the distribution performs well and uses system resources efficiently. This is the second installment of a two-part article series designed to help you do just that. The first installment dealt with processing capacity and availability. This second installment shows you how to minimize the amount of data to be processed. You will learn how to filter out unnecessary data, how to use ALE tools and features to further minimize data during the distribution process, and how to implement the tools and features that yield the biggest performance gains.
- Use ABAP’s Object Services to build object-oriented enterprise applications and divide database access from application logic
by Christian Assig, Developer, IOT GmbH, Germany; Aldo Fobbe, Mgr. of Product Dev. & Tech., IOT GmbH, Germany; and Arno Niemietz, Founder and
Managing Dir., IOT GmbH, Germany
ABAP’s Object Services — the Persistence Service and the Transaction Service — provide many advantages when developing software in ABAP. They open up ABAP programming to all the possibilities and advantages of object-oriented software development. For IOT GmbH, the fundamental concepts of Object Services have proven themselves entirely in practice, making our applications more robust, homogenous, and intuitive. Learn how using Object Services
led to a clean division between database access and application logic, as well as considerable time-savings in development. The question of adding an integrated lock service to Object Services is also discussed.
- Use SAP ES Explorer to Streamline Integration of Microsoft .NET Applications and SAP Business Applications
by Robert Heidasch, Enterprise Services Infrastructure, SAP AG (June 2009)
Building new service-oriented business applications requires the integration of applications written in different languages running on different platforms. SAP Enterprise Services Explorer allows the discovery and consumption of enterprise services in any type of Microsoft application and programming language supported by Microsoft Visual Studio .NET — e.g., Windows Forms application, Windows Web application (ASP.NET), Windows smart client applications, and Microsoft Office applications.
- Use SAP Solution Manager Change Request Management to Support Your Implementation Project
by John Osburn, Principal Technical Consultant, SAP Consulting Services – Midwest, SAP America, Inc.(April 2010)
Learn how to deploy and manage change requests within an implementation project by using Change Request Management (ChaRM).
- XML-Enable Your ALE Distributed Business Processes for Simplified, Standardized
Data Exchange with Non-SAP Systems via HTTP
by Arthur Wirthensohn, Senior Consultant, EDS Switzerland
While tRFC is the most commonly used communication technology for ALE distributed business processes, it is a proprietary SAP technology. So what do you do if you need to send data to a partner with a non-SAP system, and you aren’t yet ready to invest in an additional integration system? As of SAP Web Application Server 6.20, new features in ALE allow you to exchange data using a standardized communication protocol (HTTP) and a standardized data format (XML). This article acquaints you with the capabilities and limitations of HTTP/XML distributions, so you can decide whether it is right for you, shows you how to set one up, and explains what you need to know about potential distribution errors.
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